A CITY-WIDE debate on a 15-year development blueprint for York, including 22,000 new homes, is to begin in four weeks.

City of York Council’s cabinet last night approved an eight-week public consultation over its draft Local Plan, which has already drawn criticism as many of the sites earmarked for housing are on Green Belt land.

They include a 5,580-home new village – Holme Hill - next to the A64 south of Heslington, and huge developments at Clifton Moor, Monks Cross, Haxby and Wigginton, Copmanthorpe, Woodthorpe, Huntington and Osbaldwick. The Labour-led authority says at least 1,090 new homes are needed each year to tackle York’s “housing crisis”.

Opponents claimed the developments would wreck York’s Green Belt and the annual housing targets are too high. Council leader James Alexander challenged them to submit alternative sites during the consultation, after which the draft Plan will go forward for Government inspection.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ann Reid questioned the “practicalities” of building 22,000 homes as building rates in the city had been falling since the mid-2000s, saying: “Just because you’re putting an area on a map doesn’t mean housing will be built there”. She said the principle of a Holme Hill-style development had been rejected in the past because of the difficulties of making it "truly sustainable", adding: "New towns lack a sense of connection to York."

Wheldrake councillor George Barton said the council should “keep its hands off the Green Belt", saying: "People should not be classed as NIMBYs just because they disagree with a politicised agenda, and I would encourage this administration to take the opinions of the people of York seriously and treat opposing views with respect."

Mark Warters, who represents Osbaldwick, said the views of the plan’s opponents were being “trampled on and ignored”, saying: "This 'vision' is a nightmare for residents of York - there is no housing crisis in York, there is more housing than there ever has been, and yet Labour want to turn it into inner-city Leeds". Green councillor Andy D’Agorne said: “We need to boost local businesses and create a steady new housing supply in line with the infrastructure we have, not fanciful ideas of building one-and-a-half Germany Becks every year.”

Coun Alexander said York’s housing and rent prices were spiralling as supply did not meet demand and “people cannot afford to live here any more”, while York’s currently undefined Green Belt will be exposed to “uncontrolled” development without a Local Plan. He said: “We want to stem the increasing cost of housing, help business and help people into jobs, and this is the plan to do that.

"We still want to make sure developments on brownfield sites come forward, but even if we build as much housing as possible on those sites, we will not meet current demand, let alone future demand. We will listen to alternatives, but I would say to other parties: by the end of the eight-week consultation, tell us where you want to build these homes and be upfront about it."

Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for planning, said: “We have concentrated on a limited number of larger land allocations so we can avoid the mistakes of the 1960s and 1970s and ensure we have good communities, not just housing.” He said large developments would also increase funding opportunities for transport improvements.

Coun Julie Gunnell, cabinet member for corporate services, said the consultation would be "an opportunity for young people to have a voice" over the future of York and their housing needs, saying: "Without a tangible strategy, they will be priced out of living in York." Coun Janet Looker, cabinet member for education, children and young people's services, said it would not be fair for people living in the city-centre and near brownfield sites to see all the new homes built near their own properties, saying: "These people also demand a level of amenity for them to enjoy."